3544: Oh, How Exciting it is AND Actually, I Can by Angelina Lee of Exploring Plan Be on Gratitude

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[00:00:38] This is Optimal Living Daily. Oh, how exciting it is. And, actually, I Can. Both by Angelina Lee of ExploringPlanB.com and I'm Justin Malik, the guy that reads to you every single day of the year, including weekends and holidays, to help you live a more meaningful and positive life. Now, I have two posts today, both from Angelina Lee. So with that, let's get right to the posts as we optimize your life.

[00:01:08] Oh, how exciting it is, by Angelina Lee of ExploringPlanB.com. I was walking to my car after a beautiful, mindful movement yoga class last week and I was feeling extra blissful. The sun was hot and bright and all the flowers and leaves around me were extra colorful because of it. It was glorious. I then heard a sigh right behind me. One of the other ladies in the class was walking a few feet away and she lamented,

[00:01:37] Now to get back to boring old routine. I smiled briefly, debating silently whether I should say what leapt into my heart in that moment. I looked at the vibrant bougainvillea plant perched along the road in all of its glory and decided that I would. You know, I offered, I'm learning that a boring old routine is one of our biggest blessings. She smiled as I continued to say the words that I felt so deeply vibrating in my heart.

[00:02:05] When big things like sickness or sadness happen in our lives, the first thing that we yearn for is our old routine. Oh, you're so right, she replied. And then she smiled with a kind of knowing like she had remembered something extraordinarily ordinary, yet entirely special to her. I look around at my life now and I'm absolutely convinced that the little things are the big, big things. But this wasn't always the case.

[00:02:32] I used to agree that routine was boring and that our ordinary life was to be trudged through until the weekend or a big event, or until I could finally go on vacation so that I could unwind, so that I could be at peace, so that I could escape. But living for the big things sometimes means that we miss most of the little things along the way. The little things that make up our routines. The little things that make up our days.

[00:03:01] The little things that make up our life. The little things that say to us that we are experiencing a moment that will never come again. The little things that signal to us that we are safe and that we are loved. The little things that we prayed for once upon a time, but which, with time, we come to glaze over through the lens of familiarity. I thought of a dear loved one who was on a journey that she never anticipated. A journey that she never could have imagined.

[00:03:30] A journey that has transformed her life in one of the biggest ways possible. She recently wrote the following words in an update. Quote, And although the road ahead of us is still very long, we can start having glimpses of normal. Glimpses of mundane. Glimpses of basic. And oh, how exciting it is. End quote. The little things are truly the big things.

[00:03:58] The alarm that goes off early in the morning signals to us that a new day has dawned. And that we get to be a part of it. The morning traffic reminds us that we have places to go and that we know how to get there. The mess on the floor tells tales of fun to be had and the imagination to keep up with it. The same old things day in and day out provide us with stability, with comfort, and with peace.

[00:04:23] It's wonderful to have big things to look forward to, but we must always be careful that we don't sacrifice the now for the when. Most of our life is lived in these little in-between moments. The daily, ordinary, mundane moments sandwiched between big, exciting things. But what if we saw our old familiar routine through fresh eyes? Eyes that are intent on seeking and finding the joy hidden in the middle of it all. The caress of the gentle breeze.

[00:04:52] The warmth of the cup in your hand. The comfort of your favorite shirt. The safety of familiar smiles. The brilliant bougainvillea along the road as you ponder the musings of your heart. There's so much to experience if we would only look. If we would only notice. If we would only come alive to the life that is happening all around us. What if we believed that the little things are the big things?

[00:05:18] What if we decided to fully lean into experiencing them all as if for the first time? What if we viewed the old familiar routine that makes up the majority of our life as one of our biggest blessings? And what if we truly believed, oh, how exciting it is? Actually, I can. By Angelina Lee of exploringplanb.com

[00:05:45] I used to think that there were many things that I simply couldn't do. I thought they were little things, but they weren't. They were big, big things. I used to say, I can't take a moment during a busy day to pause and to be still. I have too much to do. I can't schedule activities that are not work-related during the week. I'm too swamped for that. I can't say no to increased workloads, added responsibilities, and invitations from friends and relatives. I have to make the time for it.

[00:06:15] After all, isn't that part of being a productive adult? I can't take steps to change the trajectory of my life. I've invested too much time and energy to get where I am, and so I must continue on this path. But by saying I can't, I was limiting the things that I actually could do. The restraints and restrictions that I had abided by were all in my head. They weren't real. A great release came when I discovered that the only limits on the way that I live my life

[00:06:44] are the ones that I place on it. And my perspective shifted. One by one, I started turning my can-nots into cans. I started to challenge the restricting beliefs that I held and started to say yes to things that sparked in me a passion for life. By allowing myself to say I can to little things, I started to see big changes in my outlook. There are still things that I say that I cannot do.

[00:07:11] I can't allow the expectations of others to determine the choices that I make for myself and for my family. I can't ignore the call coming from deep within to pursue a life of meaning and of purpose. I can't continue to accept the feelings of overwhelm or my natural state and that I must constantly rush in order to catch up to the speed of life. I can pause. I can breathe. I can make adjustments to my course.

[00:07:39] I can create a life that I'm excited to live. I can. And so can you. You just listened to the post titled, Oh, How Exciting It Is and Actually I Can, both by Angelina Lee of ExploringPlanB.com. I'll be right back with my commentary. You know what I love about optimizing my day? Finding snacks that work as hard as I do. And that's why I love Wonderful Pistachios.

[00:08:09] It's become my go-to snack lately. Wonderful Pistachios is one of the highest protein nuts. Each one ounce serving has six grams of protein, giving you over 10% of your daily value. I love that Wonderful Pistachios is a complete protein, providing all nine essential amino acids. That satisfying crack of opening each shell is like a snack meditation for me. If you're always on the move, their no-shells options are perfect on the go. I'm really loving Wonderful Pistachios No Shells Unsalted.

[00:08:39] It holds the salt, but not the flavor in a snack that packs a protein punch. Pistachios are known for their protein power, fiber, and better-for-you unsaturated fats for a combination that may help keep you feeling fuller longer. Whether you're running between meetings or optimizing your day, get snackin' and get crackin' with Wonderful Pistachios. Visit wonderfulpistachios.com to learn more. Thank you, Angelina.

[00:09:06] In the first post, she was reflecting on a conversation where someone sighed, talking about going back to their boring old routine. And I'm guessing we've probably been on both sides of that conversation before. I know I have. It's really easy to fall into that mindset of just getting through our day-to-day life while waiting for the weekend or a vacation or some big event like a promotion or buying a house or getting married.

[00:09:33] But what she points out in the post is pretty powerful, I think, that these ordinary moments are what make up most of our lives. Pretty much all of it. Reminds me of the movie Click with Adam Sandler, which gives him a remote control so he can fast-forward through the boring parts in life. Sounds great at first, until you realize that you're really skipping 99% of it. There's a great line in that post. She said,

[00:10:04] So true. How many things do we have in our lives right now that we once wished for, but now we take for granted? It's good stuff to think about. I'll leave it there for today. Thank you for being here, and I'll see you tomorrow as usual, where your optimal life awaits. Please August 20 From the 75th and a 142 Unitarian University東京